We end this year on a high note – we have maintained our 5 (well above world standard) in ERA for Veterinary Science research! Congratulations all! Animal Production and Genetics remain at 3 and 4 respectively (at and above world standard respectively – which is nothing to sneeze at!). Thanks go to Kim Heasman, Vanessa Barrs, Kendra Kerrisk and Tash Hamilton for being outstanding ERA champions for the Faculty. It was a tremendous amount of work – and they did it without complaining and with a “can do” attitude! Thank you!

You may have noticed that the words “Innovation” and “Impact” seem to be in the headlines lately. As I write this, the government has released in National Innovation and Science Agenda (www.innovation.gov.au). The Research Development Committee is looking to showcase great research stories with “impact” and we will be practicing our “impact pitches” at the research conference. Don’t forget that the Faculty Research Conference will be held in the VSCC on the 3rd and 4th February. Thanks to all who have submitted abstracts. More details to follow soon!

It has been a very busy year this year. I hope you manage to take a break over the holidays and take the time to relax with your families and recharge. I look forward to seeing you all at the Christmas party and then again in the New Year! Happy holidays!

Sub-Dean Indigenous Strategy portfolio in the research areaA/Prof Jaime Gongora

Developing resources for research

Jaime Gongora, Meg Vost, Jenny-Ann Toribio and Peter White have been awarded with an Educational Innovation Grants ($34K) from ITL to develop a cultural competence tool-kit for best practice community-based research & professional engagement. This is great news as it will allow resources to be developed in the area of cultural competence specific to the needs of students undertaking research in cross-cultural settings in any veterinary and animal science discipline.

Experience in research for Indigenous students from the Faculty

Faculty Indigenous students are being provided with opportunities to learn about and undertake research projects with the support of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor Indigenous Strategy & Services (DVC-ISS). Students are now planning for a small research project to generate and interpret genetic data related to reptiles for future publication, as an extra-curricular activity.

Opportunities to engage with Indigenous communities

The University of Sydney, through the DVC-ISS, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Gundjeihmi Aboriginal Corporation which includes Kakadu National Park in the Northern Territory. This is a great opportunity for student placements and research projects as this MoU will allow Community Service Hubs to be created, which will provide Sydney students with service learning opportunities in Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations. The model DVC-ISS have developed is centered on providing a respectful, reciprocal, and engaging program for students and staff and for communities that will result in meaningful outcomes. The emphasis in developing the projects has been that they are community identified and driven. Some of the projects that the Gundjeihmi Aboriginal Corporation has identified as being of importance include some related to feral animal control and land management practices.

Indigenous compact 2016

After announcing that there was an opportunity for staff to submit an expression of interest, idea or proposal for the 2016 Indigenous compact, funding has been requested for 4 areas of research. The outcomes of this funding request to the DVC-ISS will be announced next year.

The Australian reported on the launch of One Welfare, an online repository of animal welfare and ethics resources co-developed by eight Australian and New Zealand veterinary schools, and quoted lead researcher Professor Paul McGreevy from the Faculty of Veterinary Science.

Professor Paul McGreevy from the Faculty of Veterinary Science was interviewed for a Sydney Morning Herald article about the interactive One Welfare portal launched at the University, which aims to ensure veterinarians are skilled in addressing community concerns and expectations around animal welfare

702 ABC Sydney mentioned University of Sydney research on the genetic health of koalas.

City Hub reported the University of Sydney’s Veterinary Teaching Hospital has established a blood bank for dogs and quoted Dr Christine Griebsche about the positive response.

New Scientist(UK) quoted Emeritus Professor Herman Raadsma from the Faculty of Veterinary Science about the lack of evidence to support the theory of inbreeding in the koala population.

The Adelaide Advertiser reported on research from the Faculty of Veterinary Science which recommends cats can be desexed from the age of two months.

702 ABC Sydney interviewed Dr Anne Fawcett from the Faculty of Veterinary Science on recommendations for preventing heat exhaustion in small animals

ABC’s 7.30 Report broadcast a story about the influence of pharmaceutical and pet food companies on veterinarians which made brief reference to a subject taught at the University. ABC Online quoted Dr Anne Fawcett from the Faculty of Veterinary Science and a statement from the University about awareness of the issue.

The Daily Telegraph reported the University of Sydney’s Veterinary Teaching Hospital will establish its own canine blood bank. Dr Christine Griebsch from the University of Sydney Veterinary Teaching Hospital was quoted.

Associate Professor Vanessa Barrs from the Faculty of Veterinary Sciences was interviewed on ABC TV (News 24, Sydney, Canberra) and ABC Radio (AM, 702 Sydney) about a new study which recommends desexing cats before the age of two months.

The Sydney Morning Heraldand The Saturday Age quoted Professor Paul McGreevy from the Faculty of Veterinary Science about his research on training techniques and the ethics of keeping animals in captivity.

The Sydney Morning Herald and 702 ABC Sydney reported a University of Sydney study has found cats can safely be desexed before two months, significantly reducing the risk posed by feral cats to native species. Associate Professor Vanessa Barrs from the Faculty of Veterinary Science was quoted.

The Land and regional newspapers reported on research from the Faculty of Veterinary Sciences on the genetic traits of good working dogs. Professor Paul McGreevy was quoted.

Radio National AM, Pedestrian and Triple J interviewed Dr Christine Griebsche from the Faculty of Veterinary Science about the University’s first dog blood bank.

Professor Richard Whittington from the Faculty of Veterinary Science was interviewed on ABC (South West WA, Eyre Peninsula and West Coast, Northern Tasmania) about Pacific Oyster Mortality Syndrome, a viral disease which has impacted the seafood industry in France.

Professor Paul McGreevy from the Faculty of Veterinary Science was interviewed on ABC Western Queensland about current research which investigates the genetic traits of a good working dog.

The Rural quoted Professor Paul McGreevy from the Faculty of Veterinary Science about a study on the genetics of a good working dog.

Protein on the menu for invasive myna birds Common mynas prefer protein and will fight each other to get it, according to new research from the University of Sydney’s Charles Perkins Centre.

AAP Newswire, Herald Sun, Adelaide Advertiser, 6PR Perth and 2MCE Orange reported researchers from the University of Sydney are investigating ways to breed high-performing farm dogs in Australia. Professor Paul McGreevy from the Faculty of Veterinary Science was quoted.

New Scientist (UK) reported on research by Professor David Raubenheimer from the Charles Perkins Centre into vitamin supplements that could save an endangered bird.

The Conversation published an article by Professor Paul McGreevy from the Faculty of Veterinary Science about horse nutrition and its impact on welfare

Dr Sabrina Lomax from the Faculty of Veterinary Science was interviewed on ABC New England North West about lamb tartar.

The Horse quoted Dr Gary Muscatello from the Faculty of Veterinary Science about how climate change impacts on the agriculture industry.

The Sunday Age quoted Associate Professor Kendra Kerrisk from the Faculty of Veterinary Science about the increasing use of robotic milking systems on farms.

PublicationsSeptember-October-November

Publications – Quality not Quantity

Just a note to supervisors that when a postgraduate student comes to submitting a paper to a journal please emphasise that an appropriate journal with a high Impact Factor is great to try for, maybe pick 3 journals and shoot for the highest Impact Factor – you never know and it will come back to you in RIBG and help to maintain the faculties ERA of 5.

Also just a reminder that the affiliation as per University Policy is:

The following are a few opportunities can be found at Research Professional. What is Research Professional...

Research Professional is designed to assist you in your search forresearch funding. It is a database of funding opportunities in alldisciplines from a wide range of sponsors in Australia and overseas. Allfunding opportunities in the database are eligibility verified forAustralian researchers.

Vivienne Reeve is a recipient of an ESP Award for Excellence in Photobiological Research. Vivienne is a MEPSA life member and a former president of the society. I would like to extend our congratulatory wishes to Vivenne on being given this prestigious award. It is well deserved and recognised the outstanding work she has done in the area of photobiology.

Below I quote the wording of the EPS website which describes the award. I think you will all agree with me that this does apply to Vivienne's research.

"On the occasion of the biennial congress, the Executive Committee of the ESP awards a medal to a maximum of two distinguished scientists whose research achievements in Photobiology are internationally acknowledged as outstanding and who have given crucial contributions to ESP activities"

TQ2U: Australia is an international touring version of the International Institute for Qualitative Methodology’s (IIQM) globally acclaimed ‘Thinking Qualitatively’ (“TQ”) workshop series.

Sydney is the first stop on a whirlwind tour of three different Australian cities in which over two days, 10 different TQ2U workshops will be facilitated by internationally-known experts in qualitative research

Conference March 2-6,20162016 AAVMC Annual Conference: 50 & Forward

The 2016 AAVMC Annual Conference will once again present the ultimate forum for veterinary medical educators to share ideas, but this year is something special: the conference will punctuate the organization's year-long 50th Anniversary Celebration.

The conference will take place March 2-6 at the Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington, D.C. and will focus on several key dimensions of excellence at the foundation of AAVMC programming: leadership, research, One Health, teaching, and assessment. Join thought leaders and colleagues for this one of a kind event in academic veterinary medicine. Learn more.